In searching census records, I do find minor errors in ages, but nothing at all like Aunt Merle.

In 1870 she wasn't listed. The Dependent Sisters documentation lists her as being born 26 May 1870. I re-examined the census form for the date the census enumerator actually took the census. Wouldn't you know, there is no date on the page, but two pages prior to the Cabisher entry, is the date of 9 Jul 1870. The first conflict of information as she should have been listed if she truly was born on the affidavit for Dependent Sisters.

In 1880 her age is 9. That seems accurate. Since there is no 1890 census surviving for Toledo, Ohio, the closest date I have is the 1891 document for Dependent Sisters with the 26 May 1870 birth date.

On to 1900 where I cannot locate her in the census. I need to be more creative and find other spellings of Boering, or John DeMoss Boering, or any variation of Mearl, Mearlin, Gertrude, Gertrude M. You get the idea.

In 1910 she appears with her husband John DeMoss Boering and has the age of 30. This appears to coincide with what I know.

Then on to the 1925 New York State census as I can't find her in 1920. In 1925 she is now 42 giving her birth year as 1883. Now that was a jump! She gets even younger in 1930 as her age is 39! In the next ten years, for the 1940 census, she ages eleven years giving her birth year as 1890, which just cannot be as she's married and living in Columbus, Ohio, in 1891!

So. Who gave the information to the census taker? What date is correct? From only this information, I figure she was born in the 1870/1871 time frame. The parents would have given her age in the 1880 census, the closest date to the actual event. The best source of information would be her birth record in Toledo, Ohio, so that's the next documentation I'll obtain for her record files.

The important thing about searching only census for an accurate date, especially for Gertrude Mearlin Cabisher Eagle Boering, is that it just wasn't there. Other substantiating information must be obtained. Remember this for all your ancestors too. If no birth record exists for the state, or if the census records may be prior to 1850 where the age of the person is listed for the first time, you need to find other sources.